Mine-finder.



1-". BijNDGENS.

MINE FINDER.

APPLIOATIOKFILED DEC. 27, 1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

11104911707: 1 30115 12520 ens;

Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

F. BUNDGENS.

MINE FINDER.

APPLIOATION FILED D3027, 1911.

1,094,700. Patented Apr. 28, 1914. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2..

Fig. 2.

I I 'I IVi'lnesss: in van Tor.- nan 21291 98118 P.BfiNDGEN&

MINE FINDER.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 27 1911.

1,094,700. Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

F. BUNDGENS.

MINE FINDER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 27, 1911.

1,094,700. Patented Apr. 28, 1914;

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Fig. 5.

l m v1 i 2 [it ven'for: Wifimswes: w 15 6112 .fllZiu/r ens P. BtTNDGBNs.

MINE FINDER.

APPLICATION FILED D20. 27, 1911.

1,094,700. Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

B D5 SHEETS-SHEET 5. e 6 1 1 i k1 Fig. 7. I 11 E 1/ n 4 v; mlizesses- 12 fnveni'or:

" UNITED STATES F anna Beam-Ens, orinnn, GERMANY.

PATENT onrron.

MINE-FIfiDER.

,Sp a o -L tt Patent Patented Apr. 28, 1914.. Application filed December 27, 1911. Serial No. 668.189.

TdaZZ'whmn-it may concern.-

Be -it= known that I, FRANzBfiNneENs, manufacturer, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Sackgasse 7/9., Kiel, Germany,.have. invented certain new and useful Improvements.- in Mine-Finders, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention relates to--mine finders, and consists of a supporting buoyhaving a dragging'weight' and dragrope suspended thereto. Mine finders of this type are towed,

/ as is well known, by a searchingbo.at,-whiie the drag rope attached to the dragging weight is led'in the form of an arc to the dmggingweight of a secondsimilar device dragged by a second boat moving parallel to the first. There is also a device-provided;

which; upon engagement of the drag line with mine anchor rope, breaks-the same and releases the mine from its anchorage. In my present 'constructioni oneof the dragging weights has suspended thereto the drag line and 'alsoa grapnel, which gra'pnel is subsequently used to break the anchor rope, as abovenoted; This dragline and grapnel suspending means comprises a spring slip coupling which-opens under a predetermined tension of the dragline when it engages with a mine anchor rope. The dragline or the grapnel are not: however completely released. but remain attached to the dragging Weight by means of a line which unwinds from a drum attached inthe said dragging weight, the said line being of such length that it enables thegrapnel to be brought up to the-anchor rope.

The grapnel and the end of the drag line,

after-they are released by the draggingweight, are supportedby a grapnel supporting buoy which is detachably suspended to the main supporting buoy and does not become operative until the drag' line and the grapnel havebeen-released by the dragging weight, as the cable-connecting it ,to' the grapnel -is'- of acorresponding length.= The drag lineat-its-other end, is connected to to'the opening of spring-slip coupling or to "supporting buoy (a signaling device on the main supporting buoy being at the same the explosive charge carried by the grapnel some other way, a cutting device on the ,grapnel is operated, and the mine anchor rope is'destroyed.

vThe new mine finder is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing in that position of the single parts relatively to each other, which they occupy during themovement of the searching boats, before a mine anchor rope. is caught by the drag line.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device; Fig.2 is aplan view; Fig. 3 is a side view of the dragging weight with a portion broken away; Fig, 4. is a front View of the dragging weight with aportion broken away to show the drum braking mechanism; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the dragging weight-supporting buoy; Fig. 6 is. a sectional view of the buoy taken on the line. AB, Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is, a longitudinal section-of the grapnel; Fig. 8 is a plan view of the same;-Fi-g. 9 is a sectional view of the grapnel, taken on the line A B of Fig.7; FigzlO is a cross sectional view of the grapnel taken on the line CD of Fig. 7; Fig. 11 is aside elevation of an operative detail of the g-rapnel known as a slide-block; and Fig. 12 is a side View of the drag link crossp On the seaching boats is arranged a winch Each cable drum can be operated separately.

M; and to the other the dragging weight lineN. The buoy line M is connected to the supporting buoy A, and the dragging weight line N to the dragging weight D which is further supported by the support-- ingbuoy A by means of a cable K.

The drag line H, and, by. means ofa short connecting piece of rope L. the grapnel G, are attached by means of shackles to. a spring slip coupling mounted on' the dragging weight. The gra'pnel G is connected in front by means of a short-piece of rope J broughtright against the anchor-rope, and

is detonated by the mutual pressure or in To one cable drum is secured the buoy line of the usual type with two cable drums.

to the drag line H or is hooked to it by means of a shackle. Another connection of the supporting buoy A to the grapnel G is eflectedby. means of the line 0 with the a spring plug being pulled out of the main insertion of a small grapncl supporting buoy C, said buoy being detachably connected to the larger buoy A by any suitable means, preferably a short cable S Cable P is also suitably connected between grapnel G and the dragging weight D, this cable being suitably attached to the cable L at one end, the other end being attached to and wound upon a rotatable drum 14 concealed in the interior of the said dragging weight D. The dragging weight cable K and the line 0 must be in proper proportional length to each other. i 7

While one section of the finder for one boat, shown in Fig. 1, consists of the supporting buoy A (preferably with a signal lamp) the dragging weight D with the spring slip coupling and inner cable drum, and grapnel G with line 0, and the grapnel buoy C, the other section for the boat comprises only an ordinary supporting buoy without a signal lamp, a dragging Weight D without a slip coupling, an inner cable drum, rapnel and line 0 with the grapnel buoy The two portions are connected together by the drag line H of suitable length.

A construction of the dragging weight D is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. It consists in the usual heavy metal block of rounding form, for the purpose of reducing as much as possible its resistance to movement in water, and is provided with lugs 1 for securingthe cable K from the supportingbuoy,,andz withlugs or eyes 2 and 3 for se- ;curing the drag line with its two branches.

-'=At a suitable pointon the dragging weight there is provided a recess 4 used for securing the slip coupling. The latter consists of the two levers 5 and 6 rotatably mounted about a pin 7 on a rod 8, the projections 9 being in the position of rest on the head of a sleeve 10 which is secured to the body of the dragging weight. In this manner the jaw of the coupling is held closed. The rod 8 is provided at the rear end with an abutment 11 against which presses a spring 12; If a tension of a iven amount is exercised on the link or s ackle placed in the jaws of the coupling th spring will yield, the projections 9 will slide away over the head of the sleeve 10, and the jaws of the coupling can open. The body of the dragging weight is moreover provided with a recess 13 in which is arranged a cable drum 14. On the latter is wound the line P leading to the grapnel. This line P prevents the complete release or control of the grapnel to which it,

is attached, when the drag line H, to which the grapnel is also attached, strikes the weight D. This function will be described hereinafter more in detail. An excessively rapid rotation of the drum is prevented by a brake 15 which, under the action of a spring 16, presses against a flange ofthe drum.

Figs. 5 and 6 show in longitudinal and cross-section respectively, my preferred form of construction of the supporting buoy and signal device. The body 101, of the supporting buoy A, which is dragged by the searching boat by means of a cable secured to an eye or lug 102, is provided with aballast weight 103, for the purpose of keeping the buoy upright in water. On the upper surface of the body thereof is arranged an electric incandescent lamp104 protected by' -ed between them. When the separator 110 is removed, the springs come together and close the circuit. The separator 110 is mounted on a plug 111 indicated by Sin Fig. 1 and is. inserted by friction into a sleeve 112 screwed into the rear wall of the body of the buoy, and is provided with an eye-bar 113. Additionally the eye-bar may be further secured by a cross-pin 114, which passes through the said eye-bar and the sleeve 112. In the eye-bar'113 is secured a line S connected to the line 0 secured to the grapnel G, or to the grapnel buoy C. If the said lines are stretched by the grapnel being strained against a mine anchor rope the pm 114 is sheared through and the plug 111 pulled out at a given moment from the supporting buoy, and the circuit closed'therebycausing the lamp to light. Thecrew will then be able to see that the explosion of the anchor rope is about to take place and can take precautionary measures. p

The body of the grapnel consists of two substantially semi-cylindrical halves a and b, with which the grapnel arms or flukes proper a and b are made in one piece. Between the halves a and Z) are inserted angular ledges c and 22 which, together with -the halves inclose a cylindrical hollow space. The parts a b a d are held together by means of bolts 6. While these bolts press the half a, by means of nuts against the ledges e d, the half I) is pivoted to them by means of the bolts f and g. The bolt f is permanently secured to the half 6, while the bolt 9 is removable. The grapnel body can be then opened upward, and the explosive cartridge it introduced. The short line J (Fig. 1) attached to the drag'line H, is secured to a clamp i. The latter branches'ofl like a fork the bores and formed in ledges c and a). The end of the prongs are provided with recesses i i (Fig. 12). PawlsK and K which are pivotally mounted at Z and Z re spectively, engage with their outer endsin the said recesses i and i and thereby act as an interlock, to maintain the said clamp i in operative or neutral dragging position, and are, in engagement at their inner ends with cam slots m and m of an adjustable slide block m. The latter projects through a guide'slceie @secured to the bottom 12, and is prevented from shifting-in sleeve 0 by a cross-pin p. In order to avoid destruction of the pin before the apparatus is brought into the water, there is placed over the proj ecting end of the slide block m a protective cap g which is again removed on bringing it into water. At its other end, the slide block m is screwed into a plate 1' against which rests the bottom of the explosive cartridge /1 The plate 1' has oppositely arranged thereon two notches r and T which engage the two keel-like ledges c and d, respectively, in such a manner as to prevent the rotation of said plate, and to permit of endwise movement relatively to the grapnel body. The plate, and method of engagement of the same with the member 1: and (Z, are indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 10 at r, r and r Vhen the grapnel strikes the anchor cable or rope of a mine the grapnel arms a. and 7) guide it in such manner that it must lie in front on the explosive cartridge 71. I The explosive cartridge consequently forced backward, while the dragging fork i pulls the grapnel body forward. Forces then become operative which shear the cross-pin p. The cartridge 71., the bottom 1' and the slide block m can then slide back against'the grapnel body, the catches k and 71: are turned-by the cam slots m m and release the fork i, so that the latter is pulled out from the grapnel body by the drag line H or the line Owing to the movement of the fork i relatively to the grapnel body, the cartridge h is ignited in the following manner: On the clamp fork i are mounted two metal sheets 8 which leave between them a hollow space into whicl rprojects a friction ignition device or primer of the cartridge h, so that it is protected. Through the sheets or plates 8 is passed a pin t to which the friction ignition wire it is connected by means of a loop. VVhenthe fork i slides out of the grapnel body the ignition wire is withdrawn from the cartridge by means of the pin t, where upon the cartridge explodes.

The procedure during the searching for mines anchored below the surface .of the water. is as follows: After the finder has been arranged as shown in the drawing. the two towing boats move simultaneously, keeping as nearly as possible the same distance apart. The length of the connecting weight.

'114, is pulled out.

line H determines the greatest lateral distance of the boats from each other. ,If a mine is anchored in the water in which the boats travel, the mine must be caught by the said line as the said drag line H establishes connection between the two portions of the finder device. The drag line H is then stretched taut by the dragging weight lines, and as soon as a given tension is reached in the lines, the drag line H, and with it the grapnel G with the short cables J and L are slipped by the spring slip coupling F arranged on the dragging weight. The grapnel G and the drag line H are then free from any fixed connection with the dragging In the interior of the dragging Weight D there is however wound on a drum, a thin line P, the grapnel line, which is hooked with the end projecting from the dragging weight D, to the cable L of the grapnel G. During further movement of the boats, the drag line H must be drawn around the anchored mine in such a. manner that the end of the drag line, released by the dragging weight, and consequently also the grapnel, are pulled against the anchor rope. The grapnel line P is unwound during that time from the drum in the dragging weight. and the line C with the grapnel buoy C and the connecting cable L, will become taut. The grapnel line P is prevented from rapid which bears against one side of the drum 14:.

Vhen the tension in the line 0 has reached a'certain value, the plug S held fast in the supporting buoy 101 by means of a cross-pin The pulling out of the plug S produces in the interior of the supporting buoy a contact which lights an incandescen't light 104 arranged on the supporting buoy. The current for the incandescent lamp 104:- is supplied by a battery 105 arranged in the interior of the supporting buoy. The lighting of the signal lamp 104 is the sign for those on board that the grapnel is being pulled against. an anchored mine. hen the grapnel has reached it, the anchor rope engages between the grapnel arms or flukes and if the boats continue to move, the ignition mechanism of the grapnel is released, the cartridge is detonated and breaks the anchoring.

Vhat I claim as my invention. and desire to secure by LettersPatent is 1. In a mine finder, a buoy. a drag weight suspended from said buoy. a drag line attached at one end to said weight and suitably towed at its other end, means for automatically releasing said drag line from said weight when the tension between the said line and weight exceeds a predetermined unwinding by means of a friction brake 15, I

minimum, an explosive-carrying grapnel sesupport said grapnel and detachably secured tot'he buoy, and a line secured to said grapnel and wound on a drum mounted within the drag weight.

2. In a mine finder,a buoy, a drag weight suspended from said buoy, a drag line attached at one end of said weight and suitably towed at its other end, means for automatically releasing said drag line from said weight when the tension between the said line and weight exceeds a predetermined minimum, an explosive-carrying grapnel se-' cured to said drag line near said weight, automatic means for firing said explosiv'e on striking an obstruction, a float adapted to support said grapnel and detachably secured to the buoy, a line secured to said grapnel and wound .on a drum mounted within the drag weight, a signal device on said buoy, and means on said buoy for operating said signal device upon detachment of said float whereby contact with a resisting object is indicated.

3. In a mine finder,-..a buoy,,a drag weight suspended from said buoy,-a drag line'attached at one end to said weight and suitably towed at its other end, means for automatically releasing said drag line from said weight when the tension between the .said line and weight exceeds a predetermined minimum, an explosive-carrying grapnel secured to said drag line near said weight, automatic means for firing said explosive on striking an obstruction, a float adapted to support said grapnel and detach ably-secured to the buoy, a line secured to said grapnel and wound on a drum mounted within the drag weight, a signal device on said float consisting of an electric lamp, batteries carried by said fioat'to supply current to said lamp, ainormally open circuit between said lamp and said batteries, and a detachable plug switch for said circuit, said switch comprising a securing means for said float and normally holding said circuit open, whereby when said float is detached and the plug withdrawn the circuit between said lamp and said batteries is closed, thereby operating the lamp.

- 4. The combination in a mine finder and destroyer, cf a drag weight, a float therefor, attaching means for supporting said drag weight from said float, a'drag line at one end of said weight and a line to permit suitable towing at its other end, an explosively charged grapnel secured to said drag line near said weight.v the other end of said grapnel being aifixed to said weight, means for automatically releasing said grapnel from said weight when the tension of said drag line exceeds a predetermined amount, automatic means for operating to fire the explosive charge in said grapnel upon obstruction of said drag line, a grapnel supporting float detachably supported to said buoy, a signal on said buoy normally held inoperative by said grapnel float attachment and operated by the detachment of said float upon the release of said grapnel from said weight, and controlling means between said grapnel and said weight to permit advancing of said buoy and weight out of the explosive zone, and to maintain said controlling connection avith the grapnel until the instant of firing.

5. The combination in a mine finder and destroyeigof a drag weight, a float therefor,-

-' charge in said grapnel upon-obstruction of said drag line, a grapnel supporting float detachably supported to said buoy, a signal on said buoy normally held inoperative by said grapnelfloat attachment and operated by the detachment of said float upon the release of said grapnel and said weight to permit advancing of said buoy and weight out of the explosive zone, and to maintain said controlling connection with the grapnel until the instant of firing, said controlling means consisting of a clip coupling on said weight and being connected by a cable to said grapnel and a rotatable cable drum carried by the said weight.

6. The combination in a mine finder and destroyer, of a drag weight, a float therefor,

attaching means for supporting said drag weight from said float, a drag line at one end of said weight and a line to permit suitable towing at its other end, an explosively charged grapnel secured to said drag line near said weight, the other end of said grapnel being afiixed to said weight, means for automatically releasing said grapnel from said weight when the tension of said drag line ex- .ceeds a predetermined amount, automatic means for operating to fire the explosive charge in said grapnel upon obstruction of said darg line, a grapnel supporting float detachably supported to said buoy, a signal on said buoy normally held inoperative by said grapnel float attachment and operated by the detachment of said float upon the release of said grapnel from said weight. and controlling means between said grapnel and said weight to permit advancing of said buoy and weight out of the explosive zone,

and to maintain said controlling connection with the grapnel until the instant of firing, said controlling means comprising a spring actuated twoqawed slip coupling and a rotatable drum carried by said weight, an

eye-bar carried by said grapnel, a cable between said eye-bar, said drum, and said coupling, the said jaws of the slip coupling being pivotally mounted upon a longitudinally movable rod supported in operable position in a bushing in said weight and having rearwardly extending projections, said projections holding said jaws in operative cable-holding position by a sliding engagement with an extension on said weight, a spring on said rod arranged to maintain said jaws in operative cable-retaining position under a predetermined tension and to release said cable when the tension is exceeded, thereby'permitting the said grapnel to be drawn to the obstruction encountered and causing the said drum to unwind the cable roportionately. i

' 7. T e combination in a mine finder and destroyer, of a drag weight, a float therefor, attaching means for supporting said drag weight from said float, a drag line at one end of said weight and a line to permit suitable towing at the other end, an explosively charged grapnel secured to said-drag line near said weight, the other end of said grapnel being aflixed to said weight when the tension of said drag line exceeds a predetermined amount, automatic means for operating to fire the explosive charge in said grapnel upon obstruction of said drag line, a grapnel supporting float detachably supported to said buoy, a signal onlsaid buoy normally held inoperative'by said grapnel float attachment and operated by the detachment of said float upon the release of said grapnel from said weight, and controlling means between said grapnel and said weight to permit advancin of said buoy and weight out of the explosive zone, and to maintain said controlling connection with the grapnel until the instant of firing, said grapnel having its means of attachment with the towin line in the form of a longitudinally slida le member in said grapnel body whereby, upon the said obstruction of the drag line, the said member is pulled out from the grapnel body to detonate said explosive charge.

8. The combination in a mine finder and destroyer, of a drag weight, a float therefor, attaching means for supporting said drag weight from said float, a drag lineat one end of said weight and a line to permit suitable i towing at its other end, anexplosively charged grapnel secured to said drag line near said weight, the other end of said grapnel being aflixed to said weight, means for automatically releasing said grapnel from said weight when the tension of said drag line exceeds a predetermined amount, automatic means for operating to fire the explosive charge in said grapnel upon obstruction of said drag line, a grapnel supporting float detachably supported to said buoy, a signal on said buoy normally held inoperative by said grapnel float attachment and operated by the detachment of said float upon the release of said grapnel from said weight, andvcontrolling means between said grapnel and said weight to permit advancing of said buoy and weight out of the explosive zone, and.- to maintain said controlling connection with the grapnel until the instant of firing, said grapnetcomprising a pair of semi-cylindricalhalf frames having flukes thereon,

a pair of ledge members oppositely arranged thereon between said frames and secured interiorly therein, a primed explosive in sa d space contained in a shell member,

means to releasably hold said shell in inop-' 'movement and detonate said explosive.

9. The combination with a pair of boats and a drag line therebetween, of, a drag Weight, a float attached to said drag weight,

an explosive grapnel attached to said weight and means for causing the explosion of said grapnel upon contact of the said drag line with an obstruction.

10. The combination with a pair of boats and a drag line therebetween of a drag weight, a signal carrying float attached to said drag weight, an explosive grapnel attached to said weight, means for causing the thereto by bolts, and forming a hollow space explosion of said grapnel upon contact of the said drag line with an obstruction, and

means carried between said grapnel and said float to operate said signal to indicate the obstruction-contact of said drag line.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 14th day of December 1911 in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANZ BUNDGENS.

Witnesses:

WoLDnMAR HAUPT, HEKRYVHAISPER, 

